An anonymous buyer recently became the proud owner of a helmet belonging to Ayrton Senna. At the end of April, auction house RM Sotheby’s sold the Formula 1 gem to the highest bidder. The legendary Brazilian champion wore this particular helmet for a large part of the 1992 season. The helmet, adorned with the iconic colors of the Brazilian flag, sold for nearly one million dollars.
Ayrton Senna’s helmet fetched approximately $960,000, which is roughly €850,000. This selling price far exceeds the proceeds from a helmet belonging to Charles Leclerc, which was auctioned off for charity during the Monaco GP in 2023. The Ferrari driver sold his headgear for just over three hundred thousand. The entire proceeds went to victims of the floods that ravaged Italy at the time.
Heroic Act
Ayrton Senna’s helmet, designed by Japanese manufacturer Shoei, is special to collectors for several reasons. Of course, it is painted in the familiar colors of the Brazilian flag. The three-time world champion almost always used this color scheme throughout his career – instantly recognizable to the Formula 1 fan and now considered iconic. In addition, this specific item – the 1992 helmet – is forever linked to a heroic act by the then McLaren driver.
When Erik Comas crashed heavily during a free practice at Spa-Francorchamps, Ayrton Senna stopped his car on the track to help the unconscious Frenchman. The Brazilian turned off the engine of the crashed Ligier after he heard that Comas’ feet were still pressing on the gas pedal. This significantly reduced the risk of fire. Comas would later admit that Senna’s action had saved his life. The news about the auction of the helmet came on the 31st anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death. The celebrated driver died in a crash during the San Marino GP in 1994.
